This Food Service Worker position is located within the Nutrition & Food Service at the VA Medical Center in Buffalo, NY. The primary purpose of the Food Service Worker position is to support the food service operations provided to Veterans. Work is performed in one or more functional areas such as food preparation, dish and pot washing, dry and refrigerated storage and receiving, and the serving area.
This Food Service Worker position is located within the Nutrition & Food Service at the VA Medical Center in Buffalo, NY. The primary purpose of the Food Service Worker position is to support the food service operations provided to Veterans. Work is performed in one or more functional areas such as food preparation, dish and pot washing, dry and refrigerated storage and receiving, and the serving area.
ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.
This position independently performs duties that require proficiency in special procedures and broad knowledge of service operations, such as food and beverage preparation, modified diets, computer proficiency, dishwashing, dry and refrigerated storage, and safety and sanitation. Major duties and responsibilities include (but are not limited to):
- Set up assigned station with the correct supplies and food items.
- Serve food cafeteria style by placing uniform portions of food on customers'/patients'/residents' plates.
- Break down and clean the station when assigned.
- Set up dining room tables for service, place food and beverages on tables, and replenish items as necessary.
- Return soiled trays and dishes to the dish room.
- Deliver meal trays to the patients' bedsides and report the patients' comments and complaints to the supervisor or dietitian.
- Prepare beverages according to the number of servings required.
- Prepare fresh fruit/cold salads/dressings/sandwich fillings and cold sandwiches and simple cold desserts in specified quantities.
- Sort, wash, peel and cut cold foods using knives or other equipment.
- Provide assistance to cooks in the food preparation area, such as weigh, measure and assemble ingredients according to standardized recipes.
- Prepare uncooked food items, such as sandwich spread and salad dressings.
- Operate and break down and clean all equipment assigned to food service and related areas.
- Portion food items into standard serving sizes using the proper utensils and specified dishware.
- Prepare boxed/to go meals.
- Select and place correct items on patient trays.
- Read and interpret a regular or modified menu, individual diet cards, tray tickets or patient selections.
- Identify obvious discrepancies between the prescribed diets and the food items designated by the menu.
- Decide what food items to serve for the most common diets.
- Perform heavy-duty cleaning tasks throughout the food service and related areas.
- Separate food waste, trash/recyclables from dishes, glasses and silverware.
- Unload food/tray delivery carts.
- Store sanitized dishes, glasses and silverware.
- Scrape, soak, scour, and scrub cookware and utensils.
- Move garbage cans when collecting and transferring trash from the work area to the disposal area.
- Other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the Medical Center.
Work Schedule: 6am-10am, 7am-11am, 1030am-230pm, 3pm-7pm including weekends and holidays.
Position Description Title/PD#: Food Service Worker/PD99920A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.
SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.
Documents Accepted:
All applicants are encouraged to apply online.
To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/05/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12728768.
1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
